Fishing reel



P E. D. CLICKNER 2,257,000

' FISHING REEL Filed July 8, 1940 INVENTOR.

\ 7 BY Earle D. Clickner I AfiORNEYS Patented Sept. 23, 1941 U Ni T V iF F FISHING REEL Earle D. ClicknerfKalamazoo, Mich., assignor to Shakespeare Company, Kalamazoo, Mich; a

- corporation of Michigan Application JIiIy S, 1940,serial Noii344g3i3 7 9 Gl-aims.

This invention relates to improvements'in fishin-g-reels.

The-main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide an improved dragor brake mechanism-for fishing'reels which is particularly desirable for main fishing reels-commonlydesignated as single actionor trout reels.

Second, to provide a drag or =brake mechanism for'fishing reels which is automaticallyactuated to increase I the braking action on the rotation of the spool inthe line unwinding :directiomas compared to the braking action" whenthe spool is-rotated in-the line'winding direction, this variation being --automatical ly secured or brought-aboutby the-change in direction or rotation :of the 519001.

Third, to provide a variable brake or drag mechanism having these advantages which-eliminates the necessity for use ofanoisy click drag mechanism commonly used in ireels :of this type and is effective -in preventing over-run of the spool-even whenstripping the line by hand a'sefor example, when castingor when a hooked fish ,is making a-sudden run.

Fourth, to provide a structure having these advantages'whichdsvery simple and compact'and maybeembodied in reels for the type-now extensivelyused without material or rexpen'sivechanges in the structure thereof.

Objects relating to details and economies 0f the invention will appear from the'description to follow. The invention-isdefined andipointed out in the claims.

A preferred embodiment of the 'inventionds illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which: r

Fig. l is a side'elevation of a fishing reelc'dfthe single action-type embodying the deatureszofmy invention.

Fig. --2 is an enlarged fragmentary view-partially in-section onthecurved line-'2--2 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary insiderview of thertail end-member of the reel showing-the mountingiof my improved lorake or drag 'mechanismthereon, the brakeshoe being: shown in one-of its extreme positions.

Fig. 4 is a similar View with the brake shoe'at the other extreme of its position.

In-the accompanying drawing, l.represents-:o'ne of'theend members of the reel frame-and 2 the spool which is-provided withend'flangesfi. The

permit its being of suitable length andalso to permit ,the curved slot 11-3 .being formed in {its springing end.

The brake shoe -l 4 is provided with a suitable facing l5 coasting with the flange of the spool and hastan .-outwardly projecting :stud 16 which slidably-and-.rotatably engages-in the slot L3. A clip =I I retains the stud in position while permitting ireesliding movement of the brake shoe in the slot.

Therad-justing tscrew 4.9 -is threaded into the outwardly =projecting stud (26 mounted on the drama, the adjustingscrew .being provided with-a knurledihead 2i ,andiarranged with its inner end engaging the stepped portion M 'of the spring brake vmember. -A flanged iriction member x22 carried rby .the adjusting screw .engages the stud forxfrictionallyzretaining the; screw in-its ad lsted position. g

Tiler-brake; ordragrshoeiisrinv continuous engagement with thespool rSO that when-the spool is rotated.- in its .line unwinding direction, the brake shoei-s shifted =.t.0:-its position at-thednnerend of the rslot .anddt -will beinoted is quite close tothe adjusting screw which constitutes an abutment for thesspring. When the spooLi-s rotatedtin line winding or reeling iinidirection, the :brakeshoe i in aalminimum friction. Itlis not intendedithat the friction of. therbrake shoe-.onthe; drag ,of the brake shoe-1shall.be-= entirely--removed;at -any time as it is.- necessary ,to maintain this friction, in. order torisecure theeautomatic action described v:thatqis, the -;.autornatic variatien in the iaraking friction,

and furthen-sthis eliminates. overr'running. of :the

spool' eithenwhensstripping,ofi byihand .or when .a fish is making a sudden run or as a result of spinning the spool in winding in.

The mechanism is capable of very fine adjust- Having thus described my invention, what Ii claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is: a

1. In a fishing reel, the combination with a frame and a flanged spool journaled therein and provided with a crank, of a curved spring brake member having stepped offsets therein disposed between the frame and one flange of the spool and secured at one end to said frame, its free inwardly oifset end having a segmental slot therein, a disk-like brake shoe provided with a stem slidably and rotatably engaged in said slot, and an adjusting screw on the frame in sustaining engagement with said brake member.

2. In a fishing reel, the combination with a frame and a spool journaled therein, of a curved spring brake member secured at one end to said frame and having a segmental slot in its other end, an adjusting screw engaging said brake member between its said slot and its point of attachment to said frame, and a disk-like brake shoe slidably and rotatably engaged in said slot and supported by said spring brake member for frictional coaction with said spool whereby it is automatically shifted in said slot by reversing the direction of rotation of said spool and its frictional engagement with the spool thereby varied. V

3. In a fishing reel, the combination with a frame and a flanged spool journaled therein, of a spring brake member secured at one end to said frame with its other end free for spring action, an adjusting screw on the frame coacting with said brake member, and a brake shoe slidably mounted on the springing end of said brake member, said screw sustainingly engaging said brake member adjacent one end of the path of movement of the shoe thereon.

4. In a fishing reel, the combination with a frame and a spool journaled therein, of a spring brake member mounted on said frame adjacent said spool, a brake shoe mounted on said brake member in frictional engagement with said spool and for limited sliding movement on said brake member as the direction of rotation of said spool is reversed, and manual adjusting means on the frame sustainingly engaging said spring brake member and positioned adjacent an end of the path of movement of said brake shoe so that the braking action of the brake on the spool is the greatest when the shoe is adjacent saidadjusting means and the spool is rotated in line unwinding direction, and is automatically reduced by the sliding movement of said brake shoe away from the adjusting means when the spool is rotated in line winding direction.

5. In a fishing reel, the combination with a frame and a spool journaled therein, of a spring brake member mounted on said frame adjacent said spool, and a brake shoe mounted on said.

brake member in frictional engagement with said spool and for limited sliding movement on said brake member as the direction of rotation of said spool is reversed, said spring brake member being positioned so that the braking action of the brake on the spool is the greatest when the spool is rotated in line unwinding direction and is automatically reduced by the sliding movement of said brake shoe when the spool is rotated in line winding direction.

6. In a fishing reel, the combination with the frame and a spool journaled therein, of a spring brake member mounted on said frame, and a brake shoe mounted on said brake member for sliding movement thereon and in frictional engagement with said spool at both limits of its sliding movement, said spring brake member being conformed and supported so that there is a substantial variation in the frictional engagement of; the brake shoe with the spool as the brake shoe is shifted from one position to another on said brake member.

7. In a reel of the type described, a frame having 'a spool rotatable therein and an elongated spring brake support fixed at one end to the frame, the other end thereof being springable toward and from the spool, said brake support having an elongated slot therein, a brake shoe slidable in said slot in continuous frictional sliding engagement with said spool, and an adjusting member on said frame sustainingly engageable with said support intermediate the ends thereof and adjacent the extremity of the slot remote from the free end of the support, said shoe being slidable in said slot in accordance with the rotation of the spool in one direction or another and exerting increased frictional drag on the spool when disposed adjacent the adjusting member thanwhen remote therefrom.

8. In a reel of the type described, a frame having a spool rotatable therein and an elongated spring brake support fixed at one end to the frame, the other end thereof being springable toward and from the spool, a brake shoe slidable on said support in continuous frictional sliding engagement with said spool, and an adjusting member on said frame sustainingly engageable with said'support intermediate the ends thereof and remote from the free end of the support, said shoe being slidable on the support on the side of said adjusting member adjacent the free end of the support in accordance with the rotation of the spool in one direction or another and exerting increased frictional drag on the spool when disposed adjacent the adjusting member than when remote therefrom.

9. In a reel of the type described, a frame having a spoolrotatable therein and an elongated spring brake support associated therewith, one end of said support being springable toward and from the spool, a brake shoe slidable on said support in continuous frictional sliding engagement with said spool, and an adjusting member on said frame sustainingly engageable with said support at a point remote from the free end of the support, said shoe being slidable on the support on the side of said adjusting. member adjacent the free end of the support in accordance with the rotation of the spool in one direction or another and exerting increased frictional drag on the spool when disposed adjacent the adjusting member than when remote therefrom.

' EARLED. CLICKNER. 

